By: Aminata Sesay
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) has taken a bold step in reinforcing Sierra Leone’s resettlement governance framework by appointing new leadership and launching a pilot resettlement baseline survey. These efforts are part of the government’s broader commitment to implementing the 2022 Development-Induced Resettlement Act, which aims to ensure that communities affected by major development projects are resettled fairly, sustainably, and with dignity.
The initiative is being driven by the National Development-Induced Resettlement Directorate (NDIRD) and marks a significant move toward operationalizing a standardized, human-centered approach to resettlement.
At the forefront of this renewed direction is Mr. Ambrose James, the newly appointed Development Secretary, who now chairs the National Steering Committee on Resettlement. In his inaugural address to the Committee, Mr. James stressed that resettlement must go beyond mere physical relocation. It must embody transparency, social justice, and long-term community resilience. “Sierra Leone cannot afford to repeat past mistakes, where displaced communities were left vulnerable and excluded from the benefits of development,” he emphasized.
The Directorate is also undergoing strategic restructuring with the appointments of Mr. Mustapha Kposowa as Director, Mr. Dennis Macfoy as Deputy Director, and Mr. Issa M’Briwa continuing in his key role as Assistant Director. This leadership team is tasked with driving the technical and institutional reforms needed to transform resettlement practices from ad hoc responses to a consistent, rights-based national system.
A cornerstone of this transformation is the pilot resettlement baseline survey, set to begin on 29th September 2025 across four districts: Kono (Koidu Holdings), Moyamba (Sierra Rutile), Port Loko (Lunsar), and Tonkolili (Bumbuna). The survey aims to build a national evidence base for future resettlements, capturing not only essential infrastructure data such as housing, access to water, and education but also more complex indicators of livelihoods, gender equity, youth inclusion, and financial access. This data will inform monitoring, evaluation, and policy alignment with national development priorities.
Key stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory bodies, emphasized the need to incorporate environmental and cultural safeguards into the resettlement process. This ensures that resettlement sites are not only ecologically viable but also socially inclusive and sustainable.
The Committee also drew a clear distinction between development-induced resettlement and disaster-related displacement, calling for coordinated yet distinct approaches across institutions such as the EPA, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), mining companies, and local councils.
Findings from the pilot survey are expected by the end of October 2025 and will inform the design of a full nationwide rollout. This initiative aims to set a new precedent for how Sierra Leone addresses the human dimensions of its development trajectory.
Closing the meeting, Mr. James remarked, “Resettlement is not just a technical exercise it is a test of our governance, our compassion, and our commitment to equity.”
With renewed leadership, strategic reforms, and a data-driven approach, Sierra Leone is taking concrete steps to establish a resettlement system that protects rights, enhances livelihoods, and ensures that no community is left behind in its pursuit of sustainable development.